The Evolution of Multicellularity (Evolutionary Cell Biology) by Matthew D. Herron

Author:Matthew D. Herron [Herron, Matthew D.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780367356965
Publisher: CRC Press
Published: 2022-06-07T05:00:00+00:00

10.6 Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

10.7 Volvox carteri

10.8 Choanoflagellates

10.9 The Role of the Environment

10.10 Is Clonal Development the Only Way?

10.11 Placozoa

10.12 Microchimerism

10.13 Cancer

10.14 Conclusion

References

10.1 INTRODUCTION

Multicellularity occurs all over the tree of life in myriad different forms and, depending on the estimate, has evolved independently between 8 and 25 times (Fisher et al., 2013; Grosberg & Strathmann, 2007; Knoll, 2011; Lyons & Kolter, 2015; Niklas, 2014; Niklas & Newman, 2013). Multicellularity underpins much of the complex life that we can see, but increasingly we are becoming aware of the plethora of microbial species that are multicellular or have cooperative multicellular behaviors. In Chapters 5–8, we heard about the myxobacteria and about Dictyostelium and the cellular slime molds. However, regardless of the taxa in which multicellularity has evolved, the way in which multicellular groups form has important ramifications for cooperative behavior, multicellular complexity, and the potential to evolve obligate multicellularity (which we will come to later). In this chapter, we focus on clonal multicellularity, where multicellular groups form through daughter cells sticking to mother cells after cell division. This type of multicellularity has evolved in at least 12 different lineages and has led to some of the most complex and diverse multicellular species (Fisher et al., 2013).

First, we briefly review the different lineages where multicellularity is found and ways in which multicellular groups can form, before focusing on clonal multicellularity. Next, we give a primer in social evolution theory to allow us to explore the reasons why clonality has allowed the evolution of extreme cooperative behavior, such as altruistic somatic cells. We then give some examples of clonal multicellular taxa to explore the advantages this type of group formation can pose in the natural world. Finally, we ask whether clonality is the only route to complex, obligate multicellularity, like we see in animals and plants, and finish by reflecting on the major evolutionary transitions in individuality.

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